best bass practice/recording amp bang for buck?

[kingnimrod]

I'm trying to figure out what my best option is for a good little bass amp that has a direct out for recording plus a headphone jack.

here's what I'm looking at:

Fender Bassman 25 practice amp

Orange Crush 35 practice amp

sansamp Bass Driver

comments / suggestions?

thanks

[marqueemoon]

The Bass Driver is very cool. If you primarily need something for recording, get that!

[Shawn Simmons]

Not sure how much it is but Ampeg makes a single 15", solid state combo bass amp called a B-15. It is pretty nice. One of the bass players that I always hire has one and he uses it all the time.

shawn

[SKEETER]

I had a Crate BX series combo once, one fifteen and nice features. It was just barely not loud enough to use out in small places, but it was great for practice and the studio. A friend of mine now uses it in his studio. The one I had was about 150 watts I think but they have them with much lower power. I would at least go with 50 wattts, bass amps are not like guitar amps, it takes a lot more wattage to get more sound with bass amps, because it takes a lot more energy to move a speaker cone for frequencies that low.

[SKEETER]

P.S. something I forgot to mention is that some of the Crate Bass amps have an XLR output on them, which comes in real handy for going into a board.

[kingnimrod]

well, I was thinking about getting the sansamp, but then I realized that I'd like to have something with a speaker to screw around with. I don't need anything real loud at this point, no gigs in sight ( at least not that I need to buy an amp for).

The Fender seems real attractive at $150 - just wondering if anyone has experience with these...

The little Orange amp looks killer, but I have no idea how it sounds...

[SKEETER]

You should be able to find something at least as good as a fender for less than 150...........

[spacerockmofo]

Try something from Ashdown.Everything Ive ever played put out by them sounded great,and they arent terribly expensive.Im sure you could find a smaller one for a decent price.

[wardshorsehead]

the ampeg b-15 is pretty cool. i have a little peavey microbass that is ideal for what you're looking for. you could probably spring for that and a bassdriver and not be setback too much.

frank

[kingnimrod]

well, I guess my main requirements are heaphone jack and line out / speaker out. Any suggestions? There seem to be a ton of crap little practice amps and I don't know anything about any of them.

[spacerockmofo]

You should check this out:http://www.ashdownmusic.com/bass/detail.asp?ID=81

[SKEETER]

Very little of the gear out there now is crap, Just because something is less expensive or does not carry a dsigner lable doesn't mean a thing, some of the best stuff going is elcheapo.

[misterock]

I am wondering, kingnimrod, do you own a mixer?

[dsw]

Here's a nice little practice amp: http://www.zzounds.com/item--SWRLA10
Main advice: Try Before You Buy.
If there aren't any good music stores near you this is bad advice I realize....

[bigtoe]

Not sure how much it is but Ampeg makes a single 15", solid state combo bass amp called a B-15. It is pretty nice. One of the bass players that I always hire has one and he uses it all the time.

Cool amp...miss mine for everything but live.

Mike